Reclining seats !!!!

[Gixxerboy]

Can somebody please tell me why they still put reclining seats on aircraft, almost every flight i get on usually leaves me with the back of someone elses head rest in my face for 4 hrs and me complaining !!!! im realy not a moaner but this is the only thing that ever winds me up :bored:

[Luke0705]

You should tell the people, More importantly they should ASK?

:}

Yes I agree Airlines should Not fit Reclining seats and Should Stop the Seat already in operation from reclining !

[Married a Canadian]

At mealtimes I understand and would never put my seat back during the service.

The rest of the time...some of us who are 6ft 2 find that extra bit of recline adds to the comfort level....being upright for a 12 hour flight in economy is a wee bit much. Do I have to ask a person if his answer is going to create 12 hours of discomfort for me?

If someone reclines in front of you and you don't like it..not a lot you can do really. I consider it a right (except meals).

[Tarq57]

Market forces.
Since the advent of budget airlines, people have voted with their wallets. This has pretty much forced most other airlines to reduce seat space. Gone are the days where a 36" seat pitch was normal.
Don't like it, complain to the airline. Or purchase an upgrade to business class.
But if I'm in front of you, reclining my seat, I'd rather you didn't complain to me.
You could try choosing an airline with more seat room. Ask at booking time what the seat pitch is.

[Farrell]

I have never had this problem.
The guy in front of me reclined his seat into a fully lie-flat bed on my last flight - I didn't find it a problem.

In fact, I was still able to get up and walk to the cocktail bar without disturbing him.

Economy.... is that the place in the back of the plane where all the 'dirty' people go?

[ZFT]

No, probably pax paying with their own money!!!

[jaybo1uk]

The most anoying thing about reclining seats from a cabin crew point of view is when someone complains about the seat infront being reclined and ask us to ask them to put it forward only to find that the person complaining also has THEIR seat reclined as well:ugh::ugh:

[take-off]

Anybody recling their seat ,usaully finds my knee sticking in their back or i wait till there asleep ... and then ill mess with the table ....agree with previous post remove reclining seats... or like everything else ...pay extra for them!!!!

[apaddyinuk]

On longhaul flights no way will recline be removed...come on, thats just daft!

You have a choice! If the person in front reclines their seat....then you do the same!!! But be adult about it and dont go moaning about it to the crew because there is nothing they can do. At the end of the day seat recline is provided in the seats and every passenger who has purchased a seat has every right to use the recline. Requests can be made during meal times but after that its up to you how to react!

[UniFoxOs]

But why is it that when the pax in front of you has his seat reclined fully the whole ten hours or whatever - the one in front of HIM stays upright all the time???

UFO

[Lancelot37]

Markjoy says "But if I'm in front of you, reclining my seat, I'd rather you didn't complain to me."

Sorry mate if your in front of me your seat won't recline. My knees will stop it as they are wedged against your backrest. It has worked on the last 20 trips to and from Australia. I can't help my long legs. I never recline my seat as I find it a most uncomfortable position to be in.

[Gonzo]

I wonder if there's an argument for those who are either physically unable, or too stubborn, to allow the passenger in the seat ahead of them to recline to be forced to buy a premium economy ticket to give them more room.

[Lancelot37]

Not stubborn in my case as I find it impossible to sit sideways both of my legs in the aisle.

Surely airlines should give pax on long distance flights some consideration. I know its a case of getting as many bums on seats as possible but a 34" seat pitch is far too small. The difference between cattle class at £930 and business at around £2,000 is a lot especially when two are travelling.

Short hops of about three hours can be tolerated but U.K to Oz is a bit different.

[Final 3 Greens]

I wonder if there's an argument for those who are either physically unable, or too stubborn, to allow the passenger in the seat ahead of them to recline to be forced to buy a premium economy ticket to give them more room.

Definitely.

[James 1077]

Hopefully not taken as advertising but this is the future in long haul seat design - the sooner it gets rolled out to all airlines the better!

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/whatonboard/neweconomyclass

You can recline the seat but it doesn't decrease the space of the people behind you; only your own legroom!

[Gonzo]

Just had a look at the Cathay design....surely that just means that the 'shell' of the seat back is in the recline position already? :}

[James 1077]

I don't think so; it looks to me like the way it reclines is the seat base slides forward and the seat back goes down. Giving you a reclining seat but with less legroom for you rather than the person behind you.

[Final 3 Greens]

...Giving you a reclining seat but with less legroom for you rather than the person behind you.....

and blocking aisle access to/from seats A,B and E, F.

Also, does Cathay have such a generous seat pitch as the photos suggest?

[10bob]

Lancelot37,

Sorry mate if your in front of me your seat won't recline. My knees will stop it as they are wedged against your backrest. It has worked on the last 20 trips to and from Australia. I can't help my long legs. I never recline my seat as I find it a most uncomfortable position to be in.

Thanks for reminding me why I pay the extra to travel up the front, even with my own money. The thought of spending 12 hours in close proximity to you really doesn't appeal.

Unbelievable.

[TightSlot]

Oh I'm afraid it is absolutely believable - and he's not alone. This kind of behaviour seems to be viewed as acceptable these days -we had other words for it in days gone by...

[Gonzo]

Interesting conundrum. TightSlot, what is the accepted procedure for dealing with such stubborn passengers?

Reminds me of a flight a few years ago. It turned out my seat recline mechanism had broken, so my seat was gradually reclining itself as I sat there. The imbecile of a man behind me immediately started kicking the back of my seat and using quite unnecessary language. Instead of politely pointing out what was going on (I had not noticed the movement as it was so slow), he just started reminding me that he was a denizen of the shallow end of the gene pool.:ugh:

[Middle Seat]

I guess some passengers just put their manners in their checked baggage, or stuff them into their carry on bag and jam them up in the overhead bins.

[TightSlot]

I can't pretend to have an answer Gonzo - every instance is different thanks to the significant variables (i.e. people) involved. However, there is one constant in every situation. If those involved talk to each other, and to crew members, with some elementary tolerance and courtesy, and an ability to consider compromise, then the chances of success rise incrementally. I believe this is known as normal adult behaviour, to me at least.

[apaddyinuk]

I have a very simple resolution with such passengers. I always explain to them that we provide different levels of class onboard which provide different degrees of space and always suggest to the tall "stubborn" passenger that he/she can infact today purchase an upgrade to say Premium Economy if they so wish. If they then become all arsy about it then its simple....I move the person in front of them into the empty premium seat for free!!!! Usually works! :}

[eal401]

I am 6' 5" tall. So, if I "prevent" someone from reclining their seat, I have to pay extra for another class?

What lovely people you lot aren't.

(P.S. I didn't ask to be tall "it just happened.")

For apaddyinuk; :ok::ok:

[Final 3 Greens]

eal401

If you are 6'5" tall, is it really sensible for you to buy a seat with a 31" pitch?

I am shortsighted and it costs me quite a lot of money to buy contact lenses and spectacles, compared to others, but that's just a fact of life for me.

I can see some advantages to being 6'5" tall, sadly cheap air travel is not one of them ;)

[Gonzo]

For those who won't pay for the extra room, perhaps we can have segregated zones for economy passengers over 6ft tall? I assume that those who dislike 'being reclined into' don't even dream about reclining their own seat, for the discomfort that would cause their fellow travellers. So you have all the tall passengers together, sat bolt upright, and that leaves the rest of us to relax and recline in comfort.

[apaddyinuk]

Eal...Im 6ft...ok its not as tall as yourself but even my own airlines Y class seats are a bit of a crunch for me...but do I complain when Im sitting in them? NO! Have I upgraded in the past to give myself a bit of extra room and pampering? YES!

And yes, I am a nice person especially when I am working, but I dont suffer moaning fools who are having a go at other passengers just because they want to recline their seat! Just a few weeks ago I had a 65 year old man start hitting a 28 year old lady with special needs just because she reclined her seat. He could not understand why I was so shocked by his behaviour!

[GANNET FAN]

This thread has been dealt with before. I'm 6'4" and a half and its always a problem when some inconsiderate sod just bangs his seat back without thinking what the consequence is for the person behind.
I think sometimes the seat incliner may be a first time or infrequent flyer and not be aware of the problem, but if I'm in the middle of 3 seats and the front seat comes banging on my knees, it is just impossible to turn my knees to either side without cramping up after a while. If the seat is not then put up even a little then I have little choice but to have my knees in the back of the seat. Sorry Tightslot, I'm not being thuggish but us big bods always have a problem.

[Gonzo]

Gannet Fan, so why put yourself in that position then?

[TightSlot]

GANNET - Wouldn't dream of calling you a thug! :O

I understand and empathise with the problem, and when I see it happen in the cabin, and often when I suspect that it might, I try and re-seat and help out as best I can - My issue is not with tall people but with people whose immediate response to the situation is both selfish and aggressive, and therefore likely to escalate into conflict. Conflict in a sealed metal tube at speed and altitude is rarely productive.
:ok:

[GANNET FAN]

Gonzo, if I can avoid it then of course I will but it aint always possible. For short haul I can usually put up with it but you must agree that its bloody annoying when the person in front is plain inconsiderate. It borders on the "stuff you Jack, I'm all right" which seems to be a growing feature of UK life!

Tight slot
No wonder I've got high blood pressure when one has to curb the thug like feelings to whack the bloke in front!

[Final 3 Greens]

GANNET

Although I usually sit in C/J/F, where this is not often a problem, I believe that lack of consideration also applies to tall people who seek to deny the person in front the recline that makes them more comfortable, so I think that you are only looking from one perspective.

[maxter]

Lancelot37,

Quote:
"Sorry mate if your in front of me your seat won't recline. My knees will stop it as they are wedged against your backrest. It has worked on the last 20 trips to and from Australia. I can't help my long legs. I never recline my seat as I find it a most uncomfortable position to be in. "

I cannot believe the arrogant attitude of passengers such as Lancelot. You purchase, at your own choice, economy tickets on the flight of your choice with every opportunity to establish aproximately the seat pitch before purchase and clearly in the knowledge that all the seats can be reclined. If it does not suit you to comply with the conditions of the flight, upgrade or don't fly. You have no moral justification to inflict your selfish & narrow minded ways on other passengers that have paid for the privelidge of using the seat as it was sold to them. :*:mad:

What a sad life your type must lead but then again you are probably to insular to notice the trail of hurt you leave behind.

Of course every-one should be mindfull of those arround them and leaving your seat upright during meals etc is only common courtesy. :ok:

[Gonzo]

GF,

you must agree that its bloody annoying when the person in front is plain inconsiderate. It borders on the "stuff you Jack, I'm all right" which seems to be a growing feature of UK life!

Sorry, I don't agree with you at all. I've never been annoyed with the person in front of me reclining. In fact I expect it. What is inconsiderate about them reclining?

[warkman]

If you want more space then buy a premium seat ticket.
If not, then live with the fact that the person in front of you has the right to recline. The fact you have a tiny space is down to
a) people like you not wanting to pay the actual cost of a seat
b) the airlines putting more seats in to get some money back.

no one makes you fly in that cabin, either don't fly or pay more

[James 1077]

At 6'6" I don't particularly like it when people recline but they have paid for that button so I can't truely expect them not to use it!

If someone shoves their seat back quickly onto my knees then I can't help it when they can't recline fully but normally I'll ask them if they mind putting their seats forward for 10 seconds so that I can get into a more comfortable position (normally sticking my knees into my wife's leg space or the aisle).

The thing that annoys me the most is people keeping their seats reclined during meal times (as I have paid for my meal and can't eat it when their seats are back as the tray table won't go flat).

This is closely followed by people who get up to have a walk around / use the loo and keep their seats reclined.

Personally I try not to recline my seat; mainly because doing so is uncomfortable on most flights (as my knees go further forward) but also because I know how uncomfortable it is for the person sitting behind!

[eal401]

You have no moral justification to inflict your selfish & narrow minded ways on other passengers that have paid for the privelidge of using the seat as it was sold to them.

So, if my long legs block someone from reclining their seat, and I have been unable to procure a seat elsewhere through the check-in agent's refusal to move me or my inability to afford a higher class, I am selfish and narrow minded? (I am assuming you have the means to fly first class whenever you like?)

And you call others selfish? LOL!!!!!!!!

Oh and I don't recline my seat either, unless the seat behind is empty. I don't actually view it as a right.

[Gonzo]

I know how uncomfortable it is for the person sitting behind!

Ahh, but I'd wager that for most of us it isn't uncomfortable. In fact, it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to me.

[eal401]

I believe that lack of consideration also applies to tall people who seek to deny the person in front the recline that makes them more comfortable
I just re-read this. Several times.

Am I correct in assuming that you are telling me that I am being inconsiderate by growing to 6' 5"? It is how I read that! Forgive me if I have misinterpreted.

Answer me this.

I am flying this weekend. I shall be with my wife and my 15 month old daughter, the latter will ensure that the extra leg-room rows will be denied to me as they are exit rows. How do I avoid being inconsiderate to the person in front if they want to recline their seat? Bearing in mind that the only outcome of a different row for me is likely to be divorce! Also bear in mind that the trip costs £800+ and we cannot afford business. Doesn't mean we are hard up, just means we have chosen the option best for us!

(Oh and before the "children should not be permitted on aircraft" brigade crawl from under their stones, the are visiting my wife's parents, there is only one decent way to get to Siberia when you only have two weeks and both of us will be working our @rses off to keep the little one quiet/occupied/sleeping etc. So, you can ram that ;) )

[Final 3 Greens]

Someone is being inconsiderate by expecting the person in front not to make themselves more comfortable by using a facility built into their seat.

Someone in front who reclines a seat despite knowing it will affect someone behind is also inconsiderate, e.g. during meal times.

Bottom line, if you are 6'5" and decide to travel in Y, you know what you are going to receive and its your decision alone and thus your responsibility.
I agree with Tightslot that conflict in an aircraft is best avoided and you must take responsibility for your decision.

Here's hoping that your journey goes as well as it can.

BTW, I travel over 100 flights per year and as I wish to work on board, I pay the difference between Y and C to buy the space necessary to do this.

So please no lectures about the cost of premium class as it is many thousands of euros a year out of my wallet and I pay this gladly as I realize that Y is not designed to do serious work in and don't complain about people reclining their seats meaning that I can't open my laptop with a 30" seat pitch.

[maxter]

eal
"Quote:
You have no moral justification to inflict your selfish & narrow minded ways on other passengers that have paid for the privelidge of using the seat as it was sold to them.

So, if my long legs block someone from reclining their seat, and I have been unable to procure a seat elsewhere through the check-in agent's refusal to move me or my inability to afford a higher class, I am selfish and narrow minded? (I am assuming you have the means to fly first class whenever you like?)

And you call others selfish? LOL!!!!!!!!

Oh and I don't recline my seat either, unless the seat behind is empty. I don't actually view it as a right."


I pay for my own flights and and fly economy. I have better things to do with my 'hard earned' than waste it on first class. I just respect the rights of others around me who expect to be able to use what is sold to them.

I would also show & expect courtesy fro those around me. A polite request to give a little room would always be met with a positive response. The 'stuff you Jack' attitude that I was responding to would be met with a deaf ear.

Some thought and cosideration for others was my point and meant for all sides.

[TightSlot]

eal401 - Have you thought of contacting the airline in advance:explain the problem and ask if they can help in any way. I can't promise that this will work, but might it be worth a try?

On my airline (actually my employers' airline, they just lend me the aircraft for the day) There are a couple of seat rows that are held back specifically for those in your position: The seats are not at exit rows, but one row back: The seat immediately in front, adjacent to the exit is not fitted. These seats are used both for the disabled and also for very tall pax. We also sell exit row seats at a small premium, but as you say, if your daughter is under 16, that's no use to you. What might be worth trying for is one seat in the exit row, and two in the row behind?

I hope that this works for you...

[rfw1]

Is there a standard amount for seats to recline ?

In my somewhat limitd exprience it has varied from the top of the seat in front getting about 2" closer to something like 6" in one case.

I didnt mind the 2" but the 6" was very unplesant.

[ka2cu]

In November I had an unpleasant BA flight with the row infront of me with 3 very large men. It was LHR-HKG so it was a very long flight, not only did they recline, it went over the normal recline as they were so big and heavy.

Nothing I could really do with them so I just had to live with it :rolleyes: It didn't impress my partner who was his first long haul travel experience. Never again he says!

I know how the recline can be a pain for the person behind so I never fully recline, only half. On a 747 the best seats in economy is when it becomes 3-4-3 to 2-4-2, so much more space! So hard to get though :sad:

I'm looking forward to seeing Cathay Pacific's new fixed back design. With it sliding forward it would restrict the aisle access for the other passengers. But then with the current seats it's a lot easier if the passengers move out for you anyway.

[apaddyinuk]

The problem with the Cathay seat is that its now reversed...if you recline your seat...you have to hope that the person in front reclines theres or else you knees (if tall) will jam into their lower seat back!!!! So instead of complaining that the person in front has reclined onto you...it will now be the person behind has reclined onto you!